Observation of Instant Effect of Electroacupuncture at Quchi (LI 11) and Shangjuxu (ST 37) on Functional Bowel Disorders Based on R-fMRI / 上海针灸杂志

Objective By using resting-state fMRI (r-fMRI), to observe the effect of electroacupuncture at Quchi (LI 11) and Shangjuxu (ST 37) in changing brain activity pattern in functional bowel disorders (FBD), and to provide imaging evidence for seeking the central mechanism of Quchi (LI 11) and Shangjuxu (ST 37) in treating FBD.Method Twenty patients with functional constipation were taken as the constipation group, and 20 patients with functional diarrhea were taken as the diarrhea group. The constipation group was intervened by electroacupuncture at Shangjuxu (ST 37), while the diarrhea group was intervened by electroacupuncture at Quchi (LI 11). On the next day, the two groups both received electroacupuncture at the corresponding non-meridian point. The r-fMRI data of the two groups were collected before and after the interventions. With the functional connectivity taken as the observation index and right insular lobe as the seed point, MTLAB, DPARSF and REST were adopted to obtain the brain images functionally connected with the seed point, to further analyze the difference in brain functional connectivity before and after electroacupuncture.Result After electroacupuncture at Shangjuxu (ST 37), functional constipation patients presented positive activation in left cerebellar declive, left lingual gyrus, left middle occipital gyrus, right occipital lobe, right supramarginal gyrus, right gyrus cingula and left precuneus; the right subgyrus, right insular lobe and left insular lobe were negatively evoked. After electroacupuncture at Quchi (LI 11), patients with functional diarrhea showed significant differences in left cerebellar culmen and left posterior cingulate.Conclusion Electroacupuncture at Quchi (LI 11) and Shangjuxu (ST 37) can induce changes in brain functional connectivity related to visceral hypersensitivity in FBD patients, which is possibly associated with the effect of acupuncture in improving FBD.

Observation of the therapeutic effect on COPD of cold phlegm blocking the lung type at stable stage treated with acupoint sticking therapy in different season / 中国针灸

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To systematically observe the clinical effect on chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) at the stable stage, differentiated as cold phlegm blocking the lung type, treated with acupoint sticking therapy during the dog days and the three nine-day periods after the winter solstice so as to propose the latest clinical idea and theoretic evidence for the treatment of COPD.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>One hundred and fifty cases of COPD at stable stage, which were in accordance with the inclusive standard were randomly divided into three groups, named group A (treatment in dog days and the three nine-day periods after the winter solstice), group B (treatment in dog days) and group C (treatment in the three nine-day periods after the winter solstice), 50 cases in each group. The ingredients (Semen Brassicae, Euphoribia Kansui, Asarum, Rhizome Corydalis, Cinnamon, ginger juice) and doses of herbal medicine plaster were same in each group. The herbal plaster was applied to Feishu (BL 13), Shenshu (BL 23), Dazhui (GV 14), Tiantu (CV 22), Danzhong (CV 17) and Zhongfu (LU 1). In group B, the treatment was given once on the 1st day of each dog-day period, totally 3 treatments were included. In group C, the treatment was given once on the 1st day of each nine-day periods after the winter solstice, totally, 3 treatments were involved. In group A, the treatment was given once on the 1st day of each dog-day period and each nine-day periods after the winter solstice separately, totally 6 treatments were required. The therapeutic effect was evaluated in 4 aspects, named comprehensive clinical efficacy, survival quality (the scores for symptoms, activity limitation and influence on daily life), the attach frequency and pulmonary function.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The total effective rate was 88.0% (46/50) in group A, which was superior to 76.0% (38/50) in group B and 70.0% (35/50) in group C separately (P < 0.01, P < 0.001). The results of the attack frequency, clinical symptom score and pulmonary function indices after treatment were all improved apparently as compared with those before treatment in each group (all P < 0.01). All the above indices in group A were improved much apparently as compared with the other two groups (P < 0.01, P < 0.001). Except for the level of forced vital capacity (FVC), the results of clinical symptom score and the other pulmonary function indices in group B were all improved significantly as compared with group C (P < 0.05, P < 0.001).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Acupoint sticking therapy during different season of the year achieves a superior clinical efficacy for the patients with COPD at stable stage. This therapy can reduce the attack frequency and improve the survival quality and pulmonary function for the patients. It is concluded that the efficacy of the treatment in dog days and the three nine-day periods after the winter solstice is superior to simple dog-day treatment and the treatment in the three nine-day periods after the winter solstice, and the efficacy of dog days treatment is better than that in the three nine-day periods after the winter solstice.</p>

Impacts on repeated common cold for the adults with different constitutions treated by acupoint application in the dog days and the three nine-day periods after the winter solstice / 中国针灸

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To observe the impacts on repeated common cold for the adults with different constitutions treated by acupoint application in the dog days (the three periods of the hottest days) and the three nine-day periods after the winter solstice (the three periods of the coldest days).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>One hundred and fifty-two cases of repeated common cold were divided into four zones according to the body constitution. Each zone was sub-divided into a group of the dog days + the three nine-day periods of the coldest days (group A), and a simple group of the dog periods (group B). In both groups, Dazhui (GV 14), Feishu (BL 13), Tiantu (CV 22), Danzhong (CV 17), Zhongfu (LU 1) and Shenshu (BL 23) were selected. In group A, the acupoint application was given on the 1st or 2nd day of the first, second and third periods of the hottest days in 2010, as well as the 1st or 2nd day of the first, second and third periods of the coldest days in 2010 separately. In group B, the acupoint application was only given on the 1st or 2nd day of the first, second and third periods of the hottest days in 2010. The follow-up visit was conducted before the acupoint application in the three periods of the coldest days in 2010 and before the acupoint application in the three periods of the hottest days in 2011. Additionally, the frequency of disease attack and the symptom score in sickness were taken as the observation indices for the efficacy assessment in both groups.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>(1) In both groups, the attack frequency was reduced obviously in half a year after the three periods of the hottest days for the patients of qi deficiency constitution, yang deficiency constitution and qi stagnation constitution and the clinical symptom score were reduced apparently (all P<0.01), which were superior to those for the patients of phlegm damp constitution (P<0.01, P<0.05). For the patients of phlegm damp constitution, only the clinical symptom score was reduced (P<0.01). (2) In group A, the improvements were received in the attack frequency and the clinical symptom score in half a year after the three periods of the coldest days for the patients of those four constitutions as compared with those before treatment (all P<0.01). In group B, the attack frequency and the clinical symptom score were all back to the level as those before treatment. (3) In group A, in half a year after the three periods of the coldest days, the efficacy for reducing the attack frequency and the improvements in the clinical symptoms were better than those in group B (all P<0.01).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The acupoint application in the dog days and the three nine-day periods after the winter solstice reduces the attack frequency and relieves the clinical symptoms of common cold for the adults of individual constitutions to different extents. The efficacy can be further improved in the treatment with the acupoint application in the three nine-day periods after the winter solstice half a year after the acupoint application in the dog days.</p>

Blood-letting puncture at 12 Jing-well points of the hand combined with fuming and washing with Chinese herb lotion for treatment of edema of the affected limb in patients of hemiplegia after stroke / 中国针灸

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To search for a therapy for edema of the affected limb in patients of hemiplegia after stroke.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Eighty patients were randomly divided into a treatment group and a control group, 40 cases in each group. The treatment group were treated by blood-letting puncture at 12 Jing-well points of the hand combined with fuming and washing with herbal lotion, and the control group were treated by oral administration of diuretic. The therapeutic effect was observed after treatment for 10 days.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The total effective rate was 85.0% in the treatment group and 70.0% in the control group with a significant difference between the two groups (P < 0.05). The cumulative score of symptoms of edema, improvement of skin pitting, damp and cool sensation, the function of limbs and the total score in the treatment group were better than the control group (P < 0.05); the cumulative score of TCM syndrome after treatment, improvement of the symptoms of limb flaccid paralysis, shortness of breath, weakness, dark-pale tongue proper and the total cumulative score were better than the control group (P < 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Blood-letting puncture at 12 Jing-well points of the hand combined with fuming and washing with Chinese herbal lotion is effective for edema of the affected limb in patients of hemiplegia after stroke.</p>